EDITORIAL: Voting: a right and a civic responsibility

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. _ Voters will trickle to the polls Tuesday to settle runoff elections for the Republican and Democratic parties.

We say trickle because the turnout is expected to be dismally low.

That's a sad statement with so much at stake.

Surely, somehow, some way, registered voters can find at least 20 minutes to drop by their polling place.

Besides exercising your civic rights, you just might have a pleasant encounter with a neighbor and also get one of those nifty "I voted" stickers to proudly display on your lapel.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Remember to carry some form of identification such as your driver's license, Social security card, Medicare card, passport, fishing license or any other legal form of ID.

Voters must choose either a Democrat or Republican ballot. State primary elections decide the nominees for the political parties, who will then square off in the general election Nov. 2.

Only in the general election are electors free to split their votes between Republicans and Democrats.

The GOP gubernatorial contest is the most visible race to be settled Tuesday.Bradley Byrne and Robert Bentley each hope to face Democrat Ron Sparks in November.

Byrne, of Mobile, is a former state senator, state school board member and chancellor of Alabama's Postsecondary Education system. Bentley, a Tuscaloosa physician and state representative, barely edged Greenville businessman Tim James in the June 1 primary, prompting a vote recount that relegated James to third place in a six-candidate field.

Also being decided Tuesday:

• The Democratic runoff for attorney general between Birmingham's Giles Perkins, former executive director of the Alabama Democratic Party, and Montgomery attorney James Anderson, former chairman of the Alabama Ethics Commission. The winner will face Republican Luther Strange in the general election.

• The Republican runoff for the state Board of Education seat for North Alabama. Madison City school board member Sue Helms and local attorney Mary Scott Hunter of Huntsville, a former Air Force officer, are vying for a chance to face Democrat Mary Ruth Yates in November.

• The GOP runoff for Public Service Commission Place 1 between Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh and Stephen Evans. The incumbent, Democrat Jan Cook, was unopposed.

• Some south Huntsville voters will help decide the GOP runoff for the state Senate District 9 seat between Clay Scofield and Don Spurlin. The Senate seat, which encompasses Marshall County and parts of DeKalb and Madison counties, is held by state Sen. Hinton Mitchem, D-Albertville, who did not seek re-election.